When the 76ers host the Raptors on Thursday night, they'll be doing so short-handed.

Center Joel Embiid, sidelined the past two games with a back injury, is listed as questionable for the Sixers bout with the Raptors. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Embiid is expected to return for Philadelphia's Christmas Day game against the New York Knicks.

Embiid averages 24.1 points, 11 rebounds and nearly two blocks per game, emerging as one of the best centers in the NBA this season.

However, without Embiid in the lineup, Philadelphia struggles mightily. They've lost six of the seven games Embiid missed this season, including a loss to the Bulls on Monday and a loss to the Kings on Tuesday.

The Raptors, who are going for their fifth-straight victory on Thursday, have been in similar situations this season.

Of the 29 games, the Raptors have taken on a team without one of their starting players in the lineup six times, and are 5-1 in those situations.

Here's a breakdown of how the Raptors fared against shorthanded teams:

John Wall, Washington Wizards | Nov. 5

Washington all-star John Wall sat out of their match against the Raptors due to a sprained left shoulder he sustained in a loss to Cleveland the Friday before.

However, it didn't seem to make much of a difference. The Wizards beat Toronto 107-96 behind Bradley Beal's 38 points. Kyle Lowry was ejected midway through the second quarter after picking up two technical fouls while arguing with an official.

Rajon Rondo, New Orleans Pelicans | Nov. 9

Pelicans guard Rajon Rondo sat out of the game against the Raptors on Nov. 9, with an abdominal injury. Rondo is averaging more than seven assists per game this season, limited to only 17 games.

The Raptors snuck past New Orleans, beating the Pelicans 122-118 on the road. DeMar DeRozan dropped 33 points in the win.

Chris Paul, Houston Rockets | Nov. 14

Chris Paul, who initially injured his left knee in the preseason, struggled early on to get into a rhythm. He missed the Rockets' game against the Raptors on Nov. 14, in which Houston was searching for its seventh-straight win.

Toronto, though, came out firing on all cylinders. The Raptors put up a season-high 45 points in the second quarter. They held off multiple late Rockets runs to give them the 129-113 win behind 27 points from DeRozan.

John Wall, Washington Wizards | Nov. 19

Wall missed the Wizards' second matchup against Toronto with a sore left knee on Nov. 19. This time, though, the Wizards couldn't handle business without their all-star point guard.

The Raptors beat Washington 100-91, receiving 33 points and 15 field goals from DeRozan to avenge their only home loss of the season.

Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets | Nov. 29

Charlotte guard Kemba Walker missed his first game of the year on Nov. 29 with a bruised left shoulder after colliding with San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge the Saturday before.

Toronto cruised to a 126-113 home win, thanks to a season-high 36 points from Lowry and 30 from DeRozan. Lowry knocked down eight three-point buckets in the win, too, to give Toronto its fifth-straight home win.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns | Dec. 15

Suns star Devin Booker missed the contest with the Raptors on Dec. 15 with a groin injury - one he sustained against the Raptors just eight days earlier when he had to be helped off the court.

The Suns came close to knocking off the Raptors in Phoenix without him, but couldn't close it out. The Raptors held on late and, and, with 18 points from DeRozan in the third quarter, beat the Suns 115-109.